Yurts

Indian Tents

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To send this summer off in style, I thought I would profile these colorful Indian tents. Most of them are primarily used for temporary purposes such as weddings and parties, but they are so well made and are so beautiful that they could be used as a tiny house – and you would be living like royalty.

Traditional Indian tents were often used as royal structures for the Maharajas and their courts. Ceremonial tents became the symbol of wealth and rank and the centerpiece of religion and society. Tents were often the most precious possessions – dwellings of both utility, luxury and mobility. The history of tents is long and widespread, mentioned in holy literature, recorded in poetry and depicted in art. Today, these tents are still used at palaces, private properties, gardens and resorts.

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Solargon Paonia

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I received a recent update about Solargon Homes and a cute little cabin they recently installed in Paonia, Colorado.

This is the latest version of the Solargon 20 with 311 sq. ft of living space. Owners Kale and Laura have finished this charming cabin complete with deck, sandstone patio, hot tub and root cellar. The Solargon 20-4 features a four sided roof system over an ultra efficient SIPs octagon.

Small gable windows illuminate the T&G ceiling giving this cabin an open and light living space. The SIPs building envelope, which included all wall and roof panels was assembled in 6 hours and the owners completed the entire project in 3 months.

The approximate cost for this home was between $100 and $140 a square foot. To follow other projects visit the Solargon blog.

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Laurel Nest’s Yurtle

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Asia contacted me the other day about an interesting tiny house concept. Asia is the owner of a company called Laurel Nest Yurts. Here is what Asia had to say: We just “invented” a yurt on a trailer, with a round deck.

The Mongolians invented yurts as a portable structure. Laurel Nest Yurts invented the Yurtle TM as a portable yurt structure on wheels. Our Yurtle is a mobile home that is affordable, elegant, and sustainable. Our smallest model uses less than 50 yards of fabric, 30 2x4s, 2 sheets of plywood, and 35 decking boards. The Yurtle is a tiny house with tiny materials, totaling about 110 square feet plus a small porch.

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Yurt Holiday Portugal

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Hannah McDonnell contacted me about her Yurt Holiday business located in Portugal.

Come and stay in our romantic Mongolian style yurt, nestled in the mountains of central Portugal, about one hour inland from the ancient university town of Coimbra. Its self-contained and fully furnished, set in our smallholding of terraced land, which we manage organically. Olives, vines and fruit trees surround the yurt; our own spring provides the water; and energy is solar powered. Whether you’re looking for a lazy rural retreat, or an active holiday in the hills, there’s no better way to get back to nature without foregoing any creature comforts.

So if you are traveling in Europe and want to explore what it would be like to live in a yurt, spend a couple of nights at this great holiday location.

  • The yurt sleeps two with enough space to add two children’s beds if required alternatively we have a very spacious bell tent for hire which comfortably sleeps two, perfect for older children.
  • There’s plenty of space to hang your clothes, rugs on the floor and a chaise longue for relaxing.

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Mongolian Yurts

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For over 3,000 years the nomadic tribes of Central Asia have lived in portable round abodes called ger or yurts. Probably because of the stark locations in which they live, their homes are showcases for their beautiful handiwork emphasized by bright, happy colors which certainly caught my attention. These handmade yurts, imported directly from Mongolia by Groovyyurts in Quebec and Mongolian Yurts in Ohio, are one way to live a simpler life while supporting a developing country.

Yurts are resilient, adaptable, portable and can be used for parties, exhibitions, as temporary or permanent housing, a hunting or ski lodge, a guest room or as a meditation space. Usually two to four people can assemble a yurt in about half a day.

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Gertee: Houses made from Scraps

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Niki Raapana is guest posting for us today about the Gertee a house made from scraps:

You’re looking at a disaster that used to be a livable house. Besides the wood, doors and windows, you also see curtains, beddings and other fabrics poking out. Where many people see only a trash pile, I see enormous potential. Why? Because even if the wood is singed and the fabrics have rips, I know that with just a few simple tools, a way to cut the wood and wash the materials, we have the makings for a little temporary house I call gertee.

scraps used for first 16' gertee, spring 2007

Gertees are basically standard yurts made from raw or salvaged materials. Unlike the Mongolian and Western versions (exquisitely crafted and covered in gorgeous fabrics), gertee is the budget variety. It utilizes many items that would otherwise go to the dump.

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